CARTIER Tank watches

A true benchmark in terms of design and elegance, the Cartier Tank watch is now a must-have model in the world of watchmaking. Marketed in 1919, the watch designed by Louis Cartier is directly inspired by military tanks: it thus places the hour circle in a rectangular dial.

Since 1919, the Tank watch has of course undergone developments: from the Tank LC watch to the prestigious Tank Française watch or even the Tank Américaine, the original model has become more and more sophisticated until it has definitively entered the hearts of watch lovers.

With such a rich history, the Tank watch is certainly presented to you by Castafiore through a large catalog of vintage models carefully selected and appraised by our teams.

The Tank de Cartier watch: an iconic must-have

If the Cartier Tank watch is a must-have today, this watchmaking reference is an old lady who has literally crossed history.

The creation of the first Tank watch

The very first Tank watch was born in the mind of Louis Cartier between 1916 and 1917. At a time when war was raging, the jeweler imagined a watch whose name and design would pay homage to the Renault FT-17 tank. This model of military vehicle was itself innovative because it was the first tank to be equipped with a rotating turret.

Louis Cartier thus visualized the tank seen from above and drew the first features of the watch. He obtained an elegant and refined design that stood out completely from the pocket watches that were then found in watchmakers. Marketed a few years after its creation, the Tank watch incorporated a nine-line Jaeger caliber as well as a folding clasp that was completely innovative for the time.

The Tank watch by Cartier was presented on November 15, 1919 with a stock of 6 pieces. By January 1920, all the watches had found buyers. Success could begin!

The watchmaking legend is transformed

From year to year, the Tank watch developed by the prestigious Maison Cartier has been transformed according to trends. In the early 1920s, the Tank Cintrée made its appearance before giving way to the Tank Louis Cartier, also called “the Tank LC”. Already timeless, the model became international by then taking Asian inspiration with the Tank Chinoise . Innovation went further at the dawn of the 1930s when Cartier engineers developed the Tank à Guichet , a model of watch with jumping hours and manual winding. Throughout the 1930s, the Tank Réversible was born, then the Tank Basculante, the Tank Asymétrie and its parallelepiped-shaped dial and the Tank 8 jours.

After the death of Louis Cartier, the Maison de Haute Horlogerie will limit the production of new innovations to highlight above all the heritage of the Tank watch.

The invention of the quartz movement gave the Tank watch a new lease of life: more accessible, the Tank Must watch was now aimed at younger targets. The Cartier emblem was thus produced in greater numbers and became more accessible. During the 1990s, Cartier also chose to produce the same model in several versions: Tank Américaines could thus be found in yellow gold, quartz or automatic versions, for example.

Today, Cartier innovates above all by offering new mechanisms , but also by adapting to the new constraints of our societies and in particular by controlling the environmental impact of its production.

Recognizing a genuine Cartier Tank watch: the distinctive characteristics

The Tank watch, while recognizable by its original design , has therefore come in a multitude of versions. These different creations are all essential criteria to take into account to recognize a genuine Cartier watch.

The original design of the Tank watch and its stylistic evolutions

The very first Tank watch designed by Louis Cartier is therefore inspired by the military tank seen from above. The stretchers correspond to the tracks, the case represents the passenger compartment. The dial has a railway for the minute track which makes the link with the Roman numerals. The hands are sword-shaped, their bluish tint stands out against the cream background of the dial.

How to spot an authentic Tank watch?

This timeless watch model is of course now sold all over the world. There are many references in circulation, which is why it is essential to know how to recognize a genuine Tank watch, whether you want to acquire a vintage model or a recent model.

The Tank watch is first and foremost a timepiece model that stands the test of time. The Cartier quartz movement, for example, has proven to be exceptionally durable. A counterfeit watch will of course include a much lower quality and much less resistant movement.

Many details can also be useful in detecting a fake Cartier: the hands are shorter or longer, the Roman numerals are coarser or the watch is lighter. A genuine Cartier watch is also made with materials such as stainless steel and gold, the strap is made of genuine leather, the cabochon is made of sapphire and the bezel can be set with real diamonds, the smallest detail is thought out with infinite precision.

Choose your Cartier Tank watch from Castafiore

Castafiore is a digital platform that assesses and offers recent, vintage and antique jewelry. Every day, Anne and Charlotte, the two founders, assess jewelry that sometimes bears the name of a prestigious brand. Through their discoveries, they have of course been able to authenticate real Tank watches.

The Castafiore catalog thus honors this emblematic reference through prestigious models from the finest eras of Louis Cartier watches. Discover in particular the Tank Must, the Tank Américaine, the Tank Basculante, the Tank Louis Cartier Extra Plate and many other references that have stood the test of time! To offer or to treat yourself, choose your favorite era, collection and design and enter in turn into the history of a watch that has literally taken the world of high-end watchmaking by storm.